A Dream Fulfilled

2/1/10 - Day 8

I promised Vikki I would let you know which of the 12-year-old dreams I have completed before my 40th Birthday. As listed in my blog on January 24, 2010 here are the dreams I have fulfilled:

1,3, 6,7,8,12,13,15, 16,17,& 19

I’ll comment on #1 for now, and will save other stories for the many posts yet to come.

One evening in early December 2006, Lisa Laird phoned from Edmonton, Alberta. I never get calls from Canada, so I decided to pick up this call. It was toward the end of my sabbatical and I was in the middle of cooking a new Indian recipe with chickpeas. Just weeks before Urbana ‘06, Lisa invited Adam and I to be part of a prayer team to lead 20,000 Urbana Delegates in prayers of repentance. Well, I nearly fell over in my kitchen when Lisa Laird asked us to do this. But, since it was a good friend asking, and Lisa invited both Adam and Steve Luten as well, I felt much more comfortable with the notion of stepping onto the platform with 40,000 eyes peering up at us. And frankly, God reminded me of #1 on my dream list.

When I was in elementary school, I participated in spelling bees, poetry recitations, and speech contests where I would get so nervous, I nearly passed out, but I LOVED the challenge and had a burning desire to win! I was mildly addicted to the adrenaline rush of fear when I got up on a stage to compete or speak. I wondered what kind of rush it would be to speak in front of a crowd of 20,000 people – an unthinkable dream! I dreamed of giving a political speech as the first woman president, or offering words of wisdom as an inspirational business leader or perhaps a spark a revolution as a social justice advocate. All I knew is that I wanted to impact thousands of people with my words – and could I do it without passing out?

While I only had seven minutes on the platform, and I was primarily leading prayer, I still count Urbana ’06 as the fulfillment of this dream. I may not have been sharing wise business principles or offering an arousing political platform, but I am sure I am part of a revolution to change the worlds! And…I didn’t pass out!


1. Speak in front of a group of 20,000 people w/o throwing up;
2. Travel to all 50 states and every continent but the cold ones;
3. Marry a loyal man;
4. Parasail;
5. Go on a Hot air balloon ride;
6. Have a flourishing career;
7. Tithe all through my life;
8. Grow ‘in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ”;
9. Publish a book – of poetry or something else;
10. Go to Disneyland when I can remember it well;
11. Go to Japan – visit family plot;
12. Write thank you notes to people;
13. Have a positive attitude;
14. Try to live the golden rule;
15. Go to a good college;
16. take piano lessons;
17. learn to speak Spanish;
18. Help poor people in Ethiopia (or other countries);
19. Visit NY City and Washington D.C. ;
20. Grow my stuffed animal collection/save for kids